Social media is quickly becoming an option for educators who would like to connect locally, nationally or globally! Not surprisingly, just as in f2f learning, just 'getting together' doesn't ensure that these tools will promote effective collaboration that improves teacher practice or student learning.
Social media can be a move toward democratizing of content on the web. Anyone can create content using free tools, and then users/readers can comment on, tag or rate the kinds of media that is produced. Arguably, there are still issues about who has access, who is motivated to produce and for what purposes, and what kind of control exists on the web related to what gets read and promoted. Critical literacy skills are increasingly needed to navigate this territory intelligently.
I could live without a lot of my technology, but the one thing I can't live without is Diigo which helps me organize my web bookmarks through an account on the web either publicly or private. This means that I can access them at any computer or mobile device. Added to this is the ability to form groups, follow others and annotate or comment on webpages. It's an amazing learning tool! I actually began as a Delicious user and then imported my bookmarks into Diigo.
Kidblog.org A new hosting service where student emails aren't required and student blogs are attached to the teacher page
Wikis
What is a wiki? http://commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-english
Here is a really comprehensive look into wikis - the WHY and HOW of wikis. It's great for the beginner, but the links provided are great for anyone!
Along the way, we'll look at some of the ways that you can organize the blogs and news that you read using RSS (Real Simple Syndication).
Some popular ways to do this:
Ever wondered...What on earth is all the fuss about Twitter? You have to really try it for yourself and see...
Click here for more about Twitter Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. While the service itself costs nothing to use, accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Web 2.0 Social Tools That Enhance Learning - Great Links
Storybird- Use the exceptional artwork of artists to create a story to share - or write one collaboratively. No student email is required and teachers can easily set up classroom spaces.Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories you make to share, read, and print. Read them like books, play them like games, and send them like greeting cards. Explania - Animations that explains all kinds of different things Voicethread - Create Voicethreads to share conversations around images, video or audio content Audioboo - Record up to 3 minutes of audio that will capture explanation that you can save or embed. (computer or iphone) Fotobabble - Use a picture and add some audio explanations for demonstrations of learning, thinking outloud, or just plain sharing (computer, ipad, iphone) Scratch - Object oriented programming that is really engaging and versatile for demonstrations of learning. Voki - Animated avatars that can also include your voice and be embedded online
Table of Contents
Social media can be a move toward democratizing of content on the web. Anyone can create content using free tools, and then users/readers can comment on, tag or rate the kinds of media that is produced. Arguably, there are still issues about who has access, who is motivated to produce and for what purposes, and what kind of control exists on the web related to what gets read and promoted. Critical literacy skills are increasingly needed to navigate this territory intelligently.
Watch this video for a quick description of Social Media http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE
Diigo or Delicious
I could live without a lot of my technology, but the one thing I can't live without is Diigo which helps me organize my web bookmarks through an account on the web either publicly or private. This means that I can access them at any computer or mobile device. Added to this is the ability to form groups, follow others and annotate or comment on webpages. It's an amazing learning tool! I actually began as a Delicious user and then imported my bookmarks into Diigo.Diigo V5: Collect and Highlight, Then Remember! from diigobuzz on Vimeo.
Blogs and RSS
What is a BLOG - From Commoncraft http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI
For examples of more educational blogs than you could ever get to in your lifetime check this out:
http://supportblogging.com/Links+to+School+Bloggers
Great ideas for helping kids make good blog posts: 65986824-Leaving-Good-Blog-Comments-By-Bill-Ferriter.pdf
Many blogs are created on free hosting sites such as:
Wikis
What is a wiki? http://commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-english
Here is a really comprehensive look into wikis - the WHY and HOW of wikis. It's great for the beginner, but the links provided are great for anyone!
Hosting Services for Free Wikis
http://wikispaces.com
http://pbworks.com
Wikis for Education:
Upper Grand Teacher Librarians: http://ugliwiki.wikispaces.com21st Century Learning - Andrew Churches http://edorigami.wikispaces.com
Teacher Librarian Wiki http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com
Will Richardson's Wiki Page http://weblogged.wikispaces.com/Wiki+Links
Educational-Blogging http://educational-blogging.wikispaces.com
Along the way, we'll look at some of the ways that you can organize the blogs and news that you read using RSS (Real Simple Syndication).
Some popular ways to do this:
Twitter
Ever wondered...What on earth is all the fuss about Twitter? You have to really try it for yourself and see...Click here for more about Twitter
Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. While the service itself costs nothing to use, accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Web 2.0 Social Tools That Enhance Learning - Great Links
Storybird- Use the exceptional artwork of artists to create a story to share - or write one collaboratively. No student email is required and teachers can easily set up classroom spaces. Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories you make to share, read, and print. Read them like books, play them like games, and send them like greeting cards.Explania - Animations that explains all kinds of different things
Voicethread - Create Voicethreads to share conversations around images, video or audio content
Audioboo - Record up to 3 minutes of audio that will capture explanation that you can save or embed. (computer or iphone)
Fotobabble - Use a picture and add some audio explanations for demonstrations of learning, thinking outloud, or just plain sharing (computer, ipad, iphone)
Scratch - Object oriented programming that is really engaging and versatile for demonstrations of learning.
Voki - Animated avatars that can also include your voice and be embedded online